Canadian Indiginous Delegates call on the Pope to issue an apology to survivors of Residential Schools

BY PAUL JUNOR

International media attention has focused on the approximately 200 Canadian delegation’s visits to Rome to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The Canadian Press reported that one of the 94 calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report in 2015 was a request for an apology from the Pope, and for it to occur by 2016. This can be seen in #5 of the 94 calls (website:www.2gov.bc.ca). It states, “We call upon the Pope to issue an apology to survivors, their families, and communities for the Roman Catholic Church’s role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of First Nations, Inuit, and Metis children in Catholic-run residential school.”

There were expressions of “sorrow” by Pope Benedict in 2009 when Phil Fontaine, former national chief of the Assembly had a meeting with him to explore the abuse and trauma, which occurred at residential schools in Canada. It was in 2008 that the truth and reconciliation process started, and it concluded seven years later, but the process of healing, restoration, and therapy is on-going and needed.

Regina Donald Bollen, Archbishop of Regina, has been involved with the Vatican and Indigenous community. He states, “I’m looking forward to it, nervous. It’s years in the planning, and it’s got the possibility of really helping us to take a step forward to reconciliation and healing. Meeting with the Pope is a big event.”

In response to the question, “Do you want the Pope to apologize?” he responded, “I’m profoundly sorry for what happened with the Catholic Church and their cooperation within the project of assimilation, which deprived Indigenous peoples of language, culture, spirituality. I am profoundly sorry for the way in which the church became embroiled in the colonization project, which left Indigenous peoples deeply marginalized.”

Archbishop Bollen continues, “For survivors to speak their experiences in the presence of the Pope, for him to hear, for him to respond, as I know he will with empathy, with compassion, that’s what the trip is about.”

The visit to Rome was organized by the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and in addition to the 32 Indigenous delegates, it includes: family members, staff for the Assembly of First Nations, Metis National Council, and Inuit Tapirit Kanatami. In the lead-up to the meeting with Pope Francis, the delegates toured the Vatican’s Museum, observed its collection of Indigenous art, and visited the birthplace of St. Francis, one of the most famous saints in Catholic history.

There is more than symbolic significance with the Canadian visit to Rome. What it does is set the tone for the Pope’s visit to Canada.